Quick research question for JK historians

[MH1]

Okay, there is someone bashing JK for "not showing up" for a particular vote in 2003. Besides the fact that his vote would have made zero difference on that particular bill, and that non-vote is no basis for what the basher concludes, it occurred to me that the date of the vote may have been very close to when JK had his cancer surgery.

If that is true, then it will be further illuminate this particular basher as a lowlife as well as a liar. (IMHO).

So...anyone know roughly when JK had his cancer surgery? I know he was back to the campaign pretty quickly, but I also know that he should've been off work about 6 weeks.

Thanks to whoever can help...

[globalvillage]

1. 2/12/2003

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/1970676/detail.html

Kerry Confident On Eve Of Cancer Surgery
Doctor Says Senator's Cancer 'Very Curable'

POSTED: 2:05 p.m. EST February 11, 2003
UPDATED: 5:37 p.m. EST February 11, 2003

Email This Story | Print This Story

BOSTON -- Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry will have his prostate removed Wednesday after being diagnosed with "a very early, curable" form of cancer, his doctor said.

Video

Kerry Ready To Win Cancer Battle
Doctors Discuss Senator's Condition
PROSTATE CANCER
What is prostate cancer?
What are the risk factors?
How is prostate cancer treated?

"It may sound strange to some of you, but I feel very lucky. The reason I feel lucky is that I am going to be cured. I have early detection in the earliest stage that is possible to be detected," Kerry said late Tuesday.

The surgery will be performed at John Hopkins Hospital.

"Tomorrow morning, I am going to have surgery from a superb pioneering surgery who has broken through with what they call nerve-sparing surgery," Kerry said.

[MH1]

2. Okay, thanks!

That was earlier than I thought. Geez, I didn't even realize that the primary candidates were essentially running for all of 2003 as well as 2004. Our system is truly screwed up.

[blm]

3. Frist was also scheduling votes when he knew Edwards and Kerry were

scheduled at Dem events in California or other long distance states. It was Daschle's job to call them back IF their votes were needed.

That was Frist's way of trying to interfere with the Dem primaries.

[MH1]

4. Yeah, I kind of knew that, too.

The whole argument about Kerry missing votes is bullshit anyway. It's our stupid system that drags the election out for two years that's the problem, plus as you say when the opposition sets the dates for the votes, it's pretty easy to fuck with the candidates who are Senators.

[Island Blue]

5. 2008 should be interesting then

if all of the Senators who are expected to run for president (from both sides of the aile) do in fact run. Yet another reason to gain control of the Senate this year! (Yeah, I dream big.)

[Dr Ron]

6. BS Argument

Kerry missed lots of votes, but he had an arrangement with the Democratic leadership to call him back if his vote was needed.

Edwards missed lots of votes too. Hillary will miss lots of votes assuming she runs as expected. If Feingold runs, he will also miss lots of votes.

Even Bill Frist had said that Kerry being gone to run for President was fine (an argument I used when Republicans bashed Kerry on his voting percentage, but not an argument I'd use for Kerry bashers here).

[kerrygoddess]

7. When was the vote?

That would help.

[MH1]

8. October 2003 - Healthy Forests

I was way off. But I was curious anyway. (Side note - one of my brothers just had prostate cancer surgery, and just got back to work after Christmas. He tested clear now, so it seems the story ends well. But I have a new appreciation for that particular challenge.)

Question arose from the article at the first link in this post:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=182633&mesg_id=182653

The op had posted a Counterpunch article by Joshua Frank :puke: and this poster replied by pointing out some of Frank's Dem bashing. Further down in the thread I point out to another poster that Frank is a bald-faced liar. Poster replies he will check it out and get back to me. Although I don't necessarily need it, I'm stockpiling extra ammunition. That particular article by Frank is just patently ridiculous - "Kerry is no friend of the environment"?!? (Them's fightin' words, a**hole.) In the article he talks about Kerry missing certain votes, which seems to be the basis of his argument.

So that is what spurred my question. Thanks for the help everyone.

[kerrygoddess]

9. Here's the voting record on that one

Senate Passage Vote: 10/30/2003 Passed: 80 - 14
http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?vote_id=3338&can_id=S0421103

I just replied to "Tace". Franks is a class A ass.

[MH1]

10. Thanks, I was looking for him to reply to me

not to his own comment. So I hadn't realized he replied. I just gave my own reply.

Tace seems possibly open to reason. However he also implies that Frank is, and I just don't think, if someone can write a hatchet job like that in the first place, that they will be much open to reason.

[zann725]

11. He also had a "rotator cuff" surgery in Summer '04, I think.

I remember he was in a sling for a while, and had limitations on shaking that hand. He had to be in great pain, yet went back on the trail within days.